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News Patriarchs’ Message to their faithful and to their fellow-citizens in Syria
Patriarchs’ Message to their faithful and to their fellow-citizens in Syria
Sunday, 18 December 2011 17:53
(15 December 2011)
The three Patriarchs – H. B. Ignatius IV (Hazim), Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, H. H. Mar Ignatius Zakka I (Iwas), Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and H. B. Gregorios III (Laham), Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, of Alexandria and Jerusalem – met at the Monastery of Saint Ephraim the Syrian at Ma’arrat-Saydnaya, on the morning of Thursday, 15 December 2011, and examined together what is going on in our beloved homeland, Syria, namely, the events that have been raging now for nine months.
They examined these events and their after-effects on the country and among the faithful: tragedies and sufferings on several levels. They expressed their deep pain at what has happened, and their sadness for the victims who have been killed, as well as their fear about the deterioration of the economic situation. They expressed their fervent wish for Syria’s wounds to be healed, for reconciliation among its people in love, tolerance, co-operation and wisdom, and for them to prefer the homeland’s welfare to any other interest, returning to their roots, heritage, conscience, trust in mutual exchange and in solving their problems by themselves.
The Patriarchs rejected any kind of foreign intervention from any source, and asked for the lifting of sanctions on Syria imposed upon whatever pretext.
Similarly, they rejected recourse to violence of any form whatever, and called for peace and reconciliation of everyone in the name of God and country. They encouraged the reforms and positive steps promulgated by the government, by appealing to respect for the principles of justice, freedom, human dignity, social justice and the rights of fellow-citizens.
Finally, they prayed fervently to Almighty God for him to have mercy on the slain, comfort the hearts of the afflicted, protect Syria and its leaders and guide them to a safe haven, peace, sovereignty and prosperity, and for them to ask everyone’s participation in unceasing prayer, and not to allow fear to take hold of anyone or for a hair of our heads to be touched save by the leave of God, our heavenly Father, as our Lord Christ taught us.
As we are in the period of preparation for the glorious Feast of the Nativity, we send to all our sons and daughters and to our fellow-citizens our cordial good wishes, asking our Lord Jesus, the pre-eternal God, become man for our salvation, to fill our hearts with the joy and peace heralded by the angels on the glorious night of Christmas, at the intercession of the Mother of God, the Ever-Virgin Mary, and of all the saints.
+ Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
Syriac Orthodox Patriarch
+ Ignace IV Hazim
Greek Orthodox Patriarch
+ Gregorios III Laham
Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch
Saydnaya, 15 December 2011
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Lenten Prayer of Saint Ephreim
O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust of power and idle chatter.
Instead, grant to me, Your servant, the spirit of wholeness of being, humility, patience and love.
Yes, O Lord and King, grant that I may be aware of my sins and not judge my brother. Blessed are You to the ages of ages. Amen.
Wisdom from the Church Fathers
| While the Bridegroom tarried, they slumbered and slept: Give ear, ye prudent, to our Lord's parable, for it is all light. All of them slept, both the foolish and the wise -- Which signifies that the good and the wicked die until the resurrection. The same sleep comes upon the ten of them, which is as much as to say, That death is the same for all creation without distinction. One was the sleep of the wise and of the foolish, For one is death, both of the righteous and of sinners. The good die, as the wise virgins slept; And the bad die, as the foolish also slept. Behold, all creation looketh for the coming of the Bridegroom, Christ, Who cometh at the end with His angels. But since He hath tarried, all generations slumber and sleep with the sleep of death, while looking for when He cometh. A Homily on the Ten Virgins by Mar Jacob, Bishop of Serugh |